Large dust storms create significant reductions in visibility, cause multiple car crashes, U.S.

Strong winds produced by a low pressure system moving through the United States picked up large amounts of dust from California to Oklahoma on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, creating significant reductions in visibility that resulted in multiple car crashes in which at least one person died. In some places, the visibility was reduced to zero.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation said Tuesday that all lanes of U.S. Highway 54 were closed in Texas County between the Texas state line and the Kansas state line due to low visibility caused by blowing dirt and high winds.

One person was killed in a crash on US-54 caused by low visibility, about 3.2 km (2 miles) NW of Optima, Oklahoma.

High winds are affecting driving conditions in the panhandle. It’s kicking up the dirt so much that visibility is very low. LT Eric Brown #145 is field training one of our new troopers and took this video from the passenger seat as they were following the ambulance to a crash. pic.twitter.com/se6iFRCaqn

— OK Highway Patrol/DPS (@OHPDPS) February 14, 2023

Zero visibility on Bolton Road due to blowing dust, 1 mile east of Artesia, at 1:50 PM MST. #Nmwx @NWSMidland pic.twitter.com/2Meewhl44J

— Wendellwx (@WendellLMalone1) February 14, 2023

A 10-vehicle crash also took place on US-54 near Goodwell in Texas County, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) said.

Large dust storm was responsible for at least six car crashes involving 12 cars on Highway 152 near Highway 99 in Madera County, California on the same day, while in Las Vegas, Nevada strong winds and dust affected road and air traffic.

Featured image credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers